The Thirty-Seven Things that Bodhisattvas Do

Namo Lokeshvaraya! Although seeing all dharmas neither come nor go To help wandering beings sole effort you show. To the supreme Guru and savior Chenrezi, With respectful three doors I prostrate constantly. The perfect Buddhas, source of help and happiness Are born when sublime dharma has been accomplished. And since that depends upon knowing what to do The bodhisattvas' practice, I'll explain to you. 1. When the rare ship of freedom and riches is won, For us and others to cross samsara's ocean Without any neglect both the day and night through To hear, think, and train is what bodhisattvas do. 2. To our close kith and kin, like water passion sways. To our distant enemies, like fire hatreds blaze. Forgetting discernment, dark ignorance ensues. To cast off homelands is what bodhisattvas do. 3. Afflictions slowly fade when bad places are shunned. Virtue easily grows where there's no distraction. With a clear mind trust in the dharma is produced. To stay secluded is what bodhisattvas do. 4. From each and every dear companion we will part. We will leave possessions for which we've strived so hard. The body's guest house the guest, consciousness, will lose. To renounce this life is what bodhisattvas do. 5. When with certain people, the three poisons increase. Hearing, thinking, and training decline and grow weak. Love and compassion become completely removed. To give up bad friends is what bodhisattvas do.

6. When attending special people, faults are consumed. Qualities increase like the waxing of the moon. To cherish sublime teachers with greater value, Than our own body is what bodhisattvas do. 7. Within samsara's dungeons they themselves are chained. So, who do worldly gods have the power to save? Thus, in the three jewels' undeceiving refuge To go for shelter is what bodhisattvas do. 8. The most hard to bear are lower realms' sufferings. Shakyamuni taught they are the fruit of bad deeds. Therefore, even at the cost of our lives, to choose To never do wrong is what bodhisattvas do. 9. The pleasures of the three realms are like dew on grass. They fall to peril in a momentary flash. For the unchanging state of freedom absolute, To seek and to strive is what bodhisattvas do. 10. Since beginningless time, us they have had love for. What good is happiness, when our mothers suffer? To free infinite beings by giving birth to The enlightened mind is what bodhisattvas do. 11. From desire for pleasure all suffering springs forth. From thoughts to help others complete Buddhas are born. To take others' pain as we fully substitute Our own happiness is what bodhisattvas do. 12. Even if those by force of greedy obsession, Steal or have stolen all our wealth and possessions, To offer them our bodies, wealth, and all virtues Within the three times is what bodhisattvas do. 13. Even without having done the slightest of faults If people come along and cut our heads right off, Through compassion's power, to take their non-virtues All upon ourselves is what bodhisattvas do.

Holding illusions as real. If our enemy of hatred has not been tamed. Like a mother for her children stricken with flu. To love them still more is what bodhisattvas do. At gatherings of masses. With armies of love and compassion to subdue Our own stream of mind is what bodhisattvas do. Stricken by grave illness and demons in our lives. even if people Expose all our hidden faults and call us evil. 18. Quite laughable a wish to help others would seem. All things by which longing and desire are produced To cast off at once is what bodhisattvas do. Recognizing them as our teachers of virtue. 27. Still. Towards all without having hostile attitudes To practice patience is what bodhisattvas do. Even if those for whom we have cared like our child Look upon us as if we are their arch rivals. 23. 15. Whatever the appearance. Even if equal or inferior beings. Mind's nature transcends concepts since primeval time. 16. To rouse diligence. However much enjoyed. Do outer objects really need to be mentioned? With no hope for reward or karma to bear fruit To be generous is what bodhisattvas do. 29. To show respect for them as we would our Guru Received on our crowns is what bodhisattvas do. To practice concentration that transcends in truth The four formless realms is what bodhisattvas do. Salty water and sense pleasures are much the same. To see illusion is what bodhisattvas do. 19. And not be haughty is what bodhisattvas do. 25. Outer foes may be vanquished. For bodhisattvas who wish for virtue's pleasure. With a great fortune like the god of wealth achieved. we grow most weary. thirsts grow and never fade. With a pure heart of love to express through and through All their qualities is what bodhisattvas do. Understanding through insight while resting calmly Our afflictions are brought to their entire defeat. When situations of adversity ensue. If without discipline our own goal is not reached. Just like rainbows that appear in the summertime Beautiful things appear. Destitute and by people forever despised. To give up desire is what bodhisattvas do. For all beings' sake is what bodhisattvas do. yet see they have no truth. Even if about us people speak vicious words And proclaim them across the entire universe. yet still escalate. 24. To bow with respect is what bodhisattvas do. 28. We must give even our lives for enlightenment.
22. Although famous and revered by many beings.
. Yet. it is our own mind. 21. Attributes of something grasped and one grasping to Not to form in mind is what bodhisattvas do.14. 17. Without having any mundane intent pursued To guard discipline is what bodhisattvas do. 26. When meeting with objects so lovely to the mind. All doers of harm are like a precious treasure. Under power of pride degrade us and demean. strive like it's a fire on their heads that they quell. All agonies are like our child's death in a dream. 20. To see that grandeurs of existence have no truth. the sin and pain of all beings to assume With courageous hearts is what bodhisattvas do. the source of fine attributes. Hearers and self-made Buddhas work just for themselves.

When our very mistakes we fail to comprehend. 35. To practice wisdom with method and no thought to Three separate spheres is what bodhisattvas do. 36. we may do wrong actions. To give up the harsh words which are unpleasant to The minds of others is what bodhisattvas do. Through the first five perfections. As an offering to our sublime Lamas. Thogme. And lead the bodhisattva's conduct to decline. We must ask. So with the sword-like cure of mindfulness in grasp. Harsh words create disturbances in others' minds. Meanings of sutras.
For the sake of benefiting himself and others. 32. the scripture and logic expounding monk. Through bodhichitta relative and ultimate. Dwelling not in extremes of existence or peace. 34. composed this in the Ngülchu Rinchen Cave. Since I have a poor mind and my learning is weak. I wrote for those wishing to follow the path through. errors. And it's hard for my poor mind to fathom their depths. Still bodhisattvas' actions are waves of greatness. With our mistakes constantly inquired into To abandon them is what bodhisattvas do. and all the rest O' sublime ones have patience. we discuss Other bodhisattva's faults we become corrupt.
. 37. Seeking gain and respect will lead to quarreling. 33.
Adhering to the teachings of the sublime ones. When afflictions are habits. contradictions. If under power of afflictions. To speak not of the faults of those who've gone into The great vehicle is what bodhisattvas do. For faults. in all activities we undertake. Though seeming like dharma. To strike them right down is what bodhisattvas do. These thirty-seven things that bodhisattvas do.30. with wisdom lacking. Scholars will not be pleased by this poetry. I humbly request! May all beings. "How is my mind in this present state?" Fulfilling the goal of others through continued Mindful awareness is what bodhisattvas do. To dispel sufferings of infinite beings. this was translated by Yonten Gyatso with the help of Dechen Wangmo. 31. Understanding the three spheres' complete purity. To give up clinging to the households of those who Are kin and patrons is what bodhisattvas do. Become the same as our protector Chenrezi. Yet since I drew from sutras and sublime teachings. thinking. and explanations. Hearing. To dedicate such earnestly attained virtue For enlightenment is what bodhisattvas do. and training decline and grow weak. Our complete enlightenment can not be achieved. I believe. by virtue arising from this. In short. These practices are without mistakes. tantras. they're hard to turn back. As soon as afflictions like desire are produced.